Universal factorization property of certain polycyclic groups

Let H be a torsion-free strongly polycyclic (torsion-free virtually polycyclic, resp.) group. Let G be any group with maximal condition. We show that there exists a torsion-free strongly polycyclic (torsion-free virtually polycyclic, resp.) group G˜ and an epimorphism ε:G→G˜ such that for any homomorphism ϕ:G→H, it factors through G˜, i.e., there exists a homomorphism ϕ˜:G˜→H such that ϕ=ϕ˜∘ε. We show that this factorization property cannot be extended to any finitely generated group G. As an application of factorization, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for N(f,g)=R(f,g) to hold for maps f,g:X→Y between closed orientable n-manifolds where π1(X) has the maximal condition, Y is an infra-solvmanifold, N(f,g) and R(f,g) denote the Nielsen and Reidemeister coincidence numbers, respectively.